“The Magician’s Nephew” is a classic tale, and one of my favorite books in “The Chronicles of Narnia” saga! Although not written first, it is the first of the seven books in chronological order, and details the beginnings of the Land of Narnia, serving as a prequel to the beloved “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe”.

Essentially, “The Magician’s Nephew” is a creation narrative that parallels the creation narrative of the Christian Bible. Some might call it an allegory, of sorts, and yet, the world that C.S. Lewis fashioned is in and of itself self-contained, and although parallel or similar to Christian narratives, and definitely inspired by them, as well, it also has its own histories, its own mythology, and its own past, present, and future. As far as “The Magician’s Nephew” is concerned, Narnia is not imaginary, but truly a different reality or dimension; it is not a planet we can travel to by means of science, but a world reachable only by the use of magic. Humans are referred to as sons and daughters of Adam and Eve, respectively, pointing to a recognition of Earth’s history, and of Christian tradition, but also making a distinction between Narnia and London.

In amazing fashion, Lewis creates a children’s book that is not superficial or shallow, but both to the point and deep. And as his story comes to a close, the stage is set perfectly for many more adventures to come in the Land of Narnia!